Plans afoot for Spring Creek daycare space

Municipal staff looking to have space fill a variety of uses

The municipality is looking to fill the empty space at what was once the daycare centre in Spring Creek.

Council has instructed staff to tweak the zoning on that space to allow for a "limited range of institutional uses" other than daycare.

A proposal is in the works to put a local non-profit in the space.

Mayor Ken Melamed would not elaborate on the deal after Tuesday's council meeting other that to say it's still in negotiations and that the municipality can't negotiate the lease for the space without the proper zoning in place.

Councillor Ralph Forsyth tried to drum up support for what he called a "Hail Mary pass" to entice a private daycare operator to the space. He asked council to vote on a plan to get private operators to bid on the space. It was defeated in a four to three vote.

To read more about the vote and updates on other council decisions go to www.piquenewsmagazine.com.

Since the Whistler Children's Centre shut the doors to the facility two years ago, it has cost the municipality $15,000 to $20,000 just for basic snow clearing and to ensure the facility does not fall into disrepair. With a non-profit using the space there would be no cost to the municipality to maintain the building.